Project 9A

Blog Post #5

Don't Teach your kids this stuff. Please?


I found this post rather entertaining! I love his sarcastic way of bringing out all the pros and cons of teaching kids technology. This post really got me thinking, and I definitely agree with him. Some parents really do need to allow their children to use technology and the internet more. As long as you monitor what websites your child gets on and you try to keep up with them, then hopefully they won't get into trouble of any sort. The children will need to know how to use the latest technologies, and also the internet to be able to succeed in this constantly advancing world.

Scott Mcleod J.D., Ph.D., is a famous expert on K-12 school technology issues. He is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology leadership in Education (CASTLE). He was also the Co-creator of the series "Did you know? (Shift happens)".


The iSchool initiative (Mobile Learning) and Travis Allen's Zeitgeist Young Minds Entry


In these videos, a young boy named Travis Allen tells about a new learning concept called "iSchool Initiative." He is showing his proposal to solve many education problems by incorporating technology. In the video, he lists many iPhone apps that can be used for school purposes; He names apps like the Email App, the Chemical Touch, the US Constitution, and many more. Teachers would have total access to their students any time or place with the touch of their hands. He also shows the many ways that this project could save money for the school systems.


I think that the whole idea of "iSchool Initiative" is absolutely phenomenal. It is definitely an amazing concept! Not only would it save money, but it would also get students interested in learning. They would be so excited to learn that they would probably do their homework, study, and pay attention in class. Travis Allen is a genius! I hope that in the future, this concept is really incorporated into our schools.


Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir


I found this video to be incredible. It was a choir of people who have probably never met, singing through the computer. Eric Whitacre is extremely creative and smart to be able to put something so awesome together. It is amazing that not only they all had perfect harmony, but they weren't even in the same room singing! I used to sing I don't know how he did it, but this was amazing!


Teaching in the 21st Century


In this video, he is really trying to get teachers to not just "teach" but to encourage the students to get active and participate. When students are involved, they learn better. I agree with him. We, as educators, need to get our students involved. As he pointed out, technology makes doing this easier. I never realized until I took this class just how many ways technology can really be used in the classrooms. As a future educator, I need to start learning now to use technology efficiently in a classroom. With the use of technology, I will be able to get my students engaged in learning and hopefully interested in school!I feel like using technology in schools would help every teacher in many different ways, but I honestly feel that the main way it would help is to keep the students engaged and interested in learning.

My Sentence Video

Blog Post #4

Eagles' Nest Radio & Class Blog


Eagles' Nest Radio and Class Blog was a 3rd grade blog site where the students made podcasts of what they learned. They pretended to be people talking on the radio, and they sounded so cute! I must say, for 3rd graders they were most impressive! From what I heard, it seemed like they really enjoyed getting to talk in podcasts! It also sounded like they really new what they were talking about, which tells me that using podcast' was a very effective way of teaching for their teacher.

Listening to this blog really made me want to try to use podcasts in my future teaching lessons. They really seemed to learn so much, and they seemed to have fun doing it! I feel like this was a great example to us as future teachers of one of the ways we can incorporate technology into our classrooms. I liked how they used music in the background. It made the podcast sound really professional. I think it would be a great idea for my group to try to use music in our podcast.



The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom


This website was very informing. It Tells about how podcasts are effective ways of teaching in classrooms, and how they can be very beneficial. Joe Dale brought up many very good points and ideas. One, for example, was putting "review podcasts" on itunes. He gave an example of a little girl who got sick the night before her class' test review day. She went on itunes and downloaded the review, so she didn't miss any material covered in class and didn't go to school and make anyone else sick!


This website/video showed several great examples of what podcasts can be used for in classrooms. It gave a list benefits, and I think that someday I will use podcasts in my classroom for most of these things!




Judy Scharf Podcast Collection


This website was very helpful to me. It tells all about podcasts, what they can be used for, and how to use them. Before I went to this website, I did not even realize why a podcast is called a "podcast". It is because it is a mix between an iPod and a broadcast, and it can be downloaded from itunes or a podcasting website onto an iPod or an mp3 player.

My group and I will probably go back to this website whenever we begin putting together our podcast, because it is a very helpful website! After listening to all of these podcasts and visiting the websites, I now understand the purpose of podcasts. Before, I had heard of them, but did not really know what they were, or what the point was to them.

Project #5

Blog Post #3

It's Not About Technology


I'll admit, at first when I read this I was thinking "what?" But then the more that I read, the more I understand. She is saying that everyone is trying to say that technology is the only thing that we need to change in our educating systems. She pointing out that even with new technology, if teachers don't adjust their ways of teaching, the technology is pointless. Her main supporting points are that 1.)Teachers should be learners, 2.)Learning and teaching are not the same thing, 3.)Technology is useless without good teaching, 4.)Be a 21st century teacher without the use of technology.

Well, she is right. Technology is useless without good teaching! We have to learn to teach the children effectively to where they understand us, and where we're coming from. Once we've mastered that, then we incorporate technology. As teachers, we really must watch the children and attempt to use teaching methods that affect the children in the best way. In my opinion, technology really does help to get them to pay attention better. When I was in elementary school, I had a hard time paying attention. In middle school, teachers began using overhead projectors, which made it a little easier. Then, in high school, teachers started using powerpoint presentations and smart boards. That is really when I started being able to grasp the concepts of what they were teaching. It was just more interesting to me than listening to them talk for hours! I understand where this lady is coming from, and I agree with her that we should be learners as well as teachers, and learn how to be a good teacher before we throw technology into the picture.


Is it ok to be a technologically illiterate teacher?

In this post, he basically talks about how important it is for teachers to be technologically literate. He goes through many opinions about why he feels this way. I found his blog to be very impressive and interesting.

He made this statement: "If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." This is a very powerful statement. And in a way, it is very true. Teachers need to learn how to use technology efficiently. Using technology in the classrooms really helps students to pay attention and be more interested in what is going on. He also talks about back in the 20th century. When it first began, people who couldn't read or write could still be successful. The further along it came though, the harder it was for them to find jobs and be able to do anything. When comparing to the 21st century, if you are not able to at least type or use computers, then you are uneligible for many jobs.


Gary Haynes Social Media Count

Right after I clicked on this link, the numbers began changing so fast I couldn't keep up with them! I noticed that within 60 seconds, facebook had over 600,000 items that were shared. It is definitely shocking to watch the numbers change that fast in one minute alone!


As a future educator, this means that I really have to start trying to be technologically literate. Whenever we took our edm310 questionaires, it asked whether or not I considered myself to be technologically literate. At the time, I said "yes." Now, I say "no." Taking this class has made me realize just how important keeping up with the latest technology really is! Especially as an educator. Earlier in this post I talked about how I couldn't pay attention in school until, basically, technology got incorporated the tiniest bit. If we are going to teach in this generation, we are going to have to use the latest gadgets and technology to keep up with them. My 12 year old brother apparently knows more about computers than I do! This is embarassing, and not good at all. We are just going to have to try our bests to stay updated!


A Vision of Students Today

This video was very interesting to me. I tried to watch it from the point of view of an educator. What I got from it was that the students were basically miserable because the class seemed to have no bit of technology to keep them interested. The teacher used chalkboards instead of a smart board, or a projector.


As educators, we have to understand not only the attention span of students, but also what keeps them interested. The majority of the students' signs talked about how much they use technology out of class, some during class because they were so bored. I know it said to focus as an educator, but I have to say that as a student, I understand where they are coming from. This video relates to all of the assignments I've wrote about in this blog post, and I know It sounds like I am repeating myself; But this goes to show that it is far easier to keep students' attention with the latest technology of their generation.

C4T Comments

Learning with E's By: Steve Wheeler


The first comment I left was on a post he wrote called " Cut price education?" It was about a discussion on the TES pages about making colleges go only to online-distance learning classes where students teach themselves. The reason they are proposing this is because they think that it will cut the cost for schools. Professor Wheeler thought this was a horrible idea, and said that it will increase the work loads of teachers, and cause many students to not seek after college educations. I agreed with him, because I know that many students do not do well with online distance learning classes! I said that it would be far too hard to attempt classes like "statistics, calculus, chemistry, etc." and also I agreed that the teachers' work loads would increase. Students would have far more questions about how to do things, and many complaints and problems. Also I feel that many students would choose not to go to college because they feel that they are not technologically smart enough to attempt this!


The second post I commented on was called " From atoms to Bits". In this post he summarized a lecture from Professor John Naughton at ALT-C 2011. Professor Naughton's key theme was "the elusive technological future", and it was about technology taking over music, advertising and publishing worlds, and education. I commented back and told him that I think Professor Naughton is right, because technology is taking over basically everything. I told him that I definitely thought it would eventually take over education, and that I feel students learn better with the use of technology. I told him about the video we watched with Vicki Davis, and how the students seemed to learn more.


Concrete Classroom By: Michael Kaechele


In my first comment to Mr. Michael, I commented on his blog post "9/11 as a PLN Theme." This post was following his post on Teach Paperless where he wrote about why he was not teaching what happened on 9-11 and why. I commented back and told him that his reasoning for not teaching it is good, and that I agreed with what he was saying.


In my second comment to Mr. Micheal, I commented on his blog post "Do you care?" He told about getting to hear E.B. Lewis speak at a Diversity PD day. He told a story that Lewis told about a time when he spoke to a group of 400 middle school students. He motivated them and tried to tell them that they have a purpose in life and that they are important. I commented back and told him that I thought what E.B. Lewis said was awesome, and that middle school students need to hear stuff like that because of the hard transitions and adjustments they are going through.



Creating Lifelong Learner's By: Matthew Needleman

For my first comment, I commented on his blog post "Technology in Schools is a Waste, or is it?". In this post, he talked about an article he read that was in the New York Times, "In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores". He talks about how some schools waste money on technology because they never use any of it. I commented and told him that I thought the main reason teachers aren't using their technology placed in their schools is because they don't know how to use it properly. Then, I went on to tell him that I feel if schools are going to spend that kind of money, they should have people go in and teach the teachers how to use the technology.


For my second comment, I commented on his blog post "TreasuresResources.com, New Web Site for Treasures Reading Program". He talked about a website he created to be a resource for teachers (http://www.opencourtresources.com). He also mentioned that his school district adopted the Treasures Reading Program, so out of popular demand, he made a new website (http://www.treasuresresources.com). He tells a little bit about each site, and about some of the resources that is on them. I commented and told him that I thought his websites were a great idea, and that many teachers would and probably already are benefiting from them.



Angela Maiers By: Angela Maiers

For my first comment, I commented on her post 10 Ways to Assess College. Looking back, I just realized that this was actually a "Guest post", and that someone named Joe Baker wrote it. At the time I thought she actually wrote it. This post is basically to aid parents in helping their children figure out which college is best for them. It goes over many points that are great for the parents, and their children to know. I responded and said that I thought it was a great idea, because I had a hard time picking which school to start at after I graduated high school. I told her that I thought every parent (with children seeking to go to college) should have to read it.

For my second comment, I commented on her post The Sandbox Manifesto: Life, Learning and Success on the Local Web. In this post, she tells that she recently visited some children in a sandbox. While she was there, she realized how much the web relates to a sandbox. She tells about her "Sandbox Analogy", and included a slide show of the main points. I replied and told her that I had never thought about the web like that, and that I thought her analogy was great. I also told her that from now on, whenever I think of the web, I will always think of her Sandbox analogy.

Blog Post 2

Did you know?
This video was very interesting, yet slightly disturbing. A lot of it shocked me, like the fact that India has more honor students than the US has students. Our educating system must really be going down hill. I guess this makes our jobs as educators even more difficult! Also, It said that the number of texts exceeds the total population of the planet. This doesn't really surprise me, but it is really strange to think about. More than most likely, most of these texts come from the US. Text messages are great, don't get me wrong, but they are causing us to become non-social. It is becoming easier to talk to people through technology such as facebook, email and text messages, than it is in person.

It stated that "By 2013, a super computer will be built that exceeds the computational capabilities of the human brain." Then, a few second later it says that by 2049, there will be a computer that will exceed the abilities of the human species! People are becoming so independent upon technology that you can't help but think that someday all of the jobs will be replaced by robots! You can't help but get that idea from this information, or maybe I'm just paranoid. Either way, this video helps to prove just how rapid technology is constantly growing.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
This video cracked me up! Mr. Winkle basically represents all the older people who have not yet adapted to the technology changes. It really has happened very rapidly too. My family got our first computer in 2000, I believe. My parents still have it, but don't use it. Back then we had dial-up internet and we thought it was the best thing in the world. They now have laptops, a web camera, and wireless internet. They've come a long way!

In the end, it said that Mr. Winkles was comforted after he took a visit to his old school. I didn't really understand that part because even in schools technology is used far more. I guess it meant that people are still learning the same basic concepts, reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is true, although now we learn these things with the use of technologies such as smart boards, computers, and projectors.

The Importance of Creativity
Ken Robinson brought up some very good points. He explained how creativity is important in children, and even adults. Creativity is about being original, and if we have no creativity, then all of our work will be basically the same! From this video I learned that it really is important for us to encourage the children to use their imaginations and try to be different, to be themselves.

He brought up the point that when kids are creative, they aren't afraid of being wrong, and that If we are not prepared to be wrong, we will never come up with anything original. We must try to not make children feel stupid when they answer a question wrong. Using discussion questions after teaching lessons would probably give children a chance to speak for themselves and put things into their own words. We need to focus on helping them to not become just like every one else, but to be their own self and to think for themselves. For many questions there are more than one answer, and we need to help the children to explore all possibilities instead of just one.

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson
In this video, a young girl named Cecelia interviewed Sir Robinson. I agree with him when he says that the school curriculum should be more balanced. We put such an influence on subjects like science and math, and then we think so little of allowing them to participate in art, music class, drama and dance. Those kinds of classes help them to be creative.

He pointed out three main points about creativity. One was that Everyone is creative. Some people just don't realize it because they were taught a certain way their whole life. The second was that creativity is not about just one thing. He is right, being creative is not just about painting what you want in a picture. When I become a teacher I will have to be creative about decorating the classroom and thinking up creative ways to teach my students. The third was that you can teach people to be creative. This is true! As teachers, we must try to encourage children to be creative. When I get students like Cecelia, I must try to get on their level and try to understand things the way they do. She is a very smart little girl! It will be challenging to teach people like her because she seems so advanced for her age.

Harness your students' digital smart

In this video, the teacher uses all different kinds of technology to teach her students. She uses wikis, blogs, podcasts, virtual worlds, and other forms of technology to teach them. I think what she is doing is really awesome.

You can tell that in the video the children are enjoying the class. They seem to even pay attention a lot! It is really impressive, and they seem to really be learning a lot. I think that this is an awesome way to teach, and I'm sure that many schools will soon incorporate even more technology into their programs.